Defender Alex Scott celebrates scoring the equalizer for the Boston Breakers in their 1-1 tie against the Washington Freedom Sunday evening. (Andrew Katsampes | isiphotos.com)

Boxscore (all statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (May 17, 2009) – Boston Breakers defender Alex Scott scored the equalizer in the second half in a 1-1 draw versus the Washington Freedom in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) action on Sunday evening at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Mass.

Scott’s goal came in the 49th minute when Christine Latham played a ball forward toward Scott, who then sprinted past a Freedom defender on the right side into the box and blasted a shot over Freedom goalkeeper Erin McLeod into the top center of the goal. It was the first goal of the season for the England international, and Latham’s first assist.

Washington got on the board first with a goal in the 33rd minute.  Australian forward Lisa De Vanna set up Rebecca Moros with a through ball to the right side of the penalty area, and Moros put the ball in the bottom right corner for the 1-0 lead.  Moros started alongside De Vanna and Allie Long at forward as star Abby Wambach was serving a one-game suspension.

“Without Abby it offered the opportunity for other players to step up and she took the opportunity pretty well along with Lisa [De Vanna] and Allie [Long],” said Freedom Head Coach Jim Gabarra.

With the draw, the Breakers (3-2-2) remain in second place, three points behind first-place Los Angeles Sol. Washington (1-2-3) moves into sole possession of fifth place.

“This was probably the highest level game we have played this year,” said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco. “It was very fast and quick.

“I was proud of the way we played in the second half. We went for three points tonight, but give Washington credit for their exceptional first half. After their goal, we finally started to play our game and put together some good chances.”

Washington enjoyed the better of the chances up until the first goal, and had nearly scored just moments earlier. A bizarre deflection in midfield in the 30th minute sent De Vanna on a one-on-one with Boston goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill, but Luckenbill dove for the save.

Boston responded for the remainder of the half with numerous opportunities, but was unable to get on the end of them. The Breakers continued their momentum into the second half, leading to Scott’s equalizer.

The Breakers out-shot the Freedom, 14-9, and dominated much of the second half but were unable to capitalize on the opportunities to come away with the three points. Both teams pushed hard for another goal in a game that quickly became very physical.

In the 64th minute, Scott had a chance for a second goal with a pass from Smith, but she rocketed the ball just wide of the right post. Three minutes later, compatriot Kelly Smith forced an athletic save from McLeod, who was making her WPS debut, with a shot from 25 yards out, which the Freedom keeper was able to get a hand on to tip it over.

“Their goalkeeper came up with the save of the season on Kelly Smith,” said DiCicco about Smith’s 25-yard effort.

With just six minutes remaining, Candace Chapman, fresh off the bench, served a low cross into the center of the penalty area for Kristine Lilly, but she sent the ball over the goal.

“Overall it was probably a fair result,” Gabarra said. “It’s good to get a point on the road against a team that’s good at home and in second place. We’re satisfied with the result and we’ll continue to try to get better.”

The Freedom return home to host Sky Blue FC on Saturday, May 23 at RFK Stadium as part of a doubleheader with DC United (4:30pm ET).  The Breakers are off this week and will travel to New Jersey to face Sky Blue FC on May 31 in a match that will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel (6pm ET).

Boxscore (all statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial)

POST-GAME QUOTE SHEET

WASHINGTON FREEDOM

Midfielder, Sonia Bompastor –

On getting a point on the road:
“We scored first and then we gave one up, but we are not disappointed because we played well and defended as a team.  We worked very hard on our shape defensively.  Everyone has to defend.  If we do this all year it will be okay for us.”

On playing without Abby Wambach:
“She is a great player and it is hard not having her.  We did well though and scored a goal and made chances.  It’s good because she is away next time with the national team so we have to play without her again.”

On Lisa De Vanna’s speed:
“She is very fast going forward but sometimes she needs to come back and check to the ball.  Her speed is definitely a weapon though.”

Head Coach Jim Gabarra -

On Lisa De Vanna’s play:
“Lisa’s speed is great and she has been getting better at doing what our team needs her to do but like Sonia said, she needs to work on not just turning and running and coming back to the ball.”

On playing without Abby Wambach:
“Playing without her is tough, but it gives you a chance to play people in different spots and give other players a chance.”

On Erin McLeod’s play:
“That’s why she was originally our first-choice keeper going back to October.  It was unfortunate that she wasn’t with us during the preseason.  I’m happy for her that she has finally gotten a chance to play with the team and we were very fortunate to have her back there. She helped us in this game.”

On drawing on the road against one of the best teams in the league:
“I would have liked to have three points but we played a little tentative and couldn’t keep the line at the beginning of the second half.  Earlier in the season teams were burying miraculous goals and finishing every time but this game the Breakers couldn’t finish as easily and we can take this as a turning point of the season.”

BOSTON BREAKERS

Defender, Alex Scott–

On her goal:
“We were out early with the goalkeepers practicing our shooting and I’m glad because it really paid off today.  Christine [Latham] did a good job holding the ball up and got me a great pass.  Kelly [Smith] was screaming for it in the penalty box and I think she would have gone mad if I didn’t put it in.”

Midfielder, Kristine Lilly—

On their chances at winning the game
“I really should have scored that one at the end.  It was a great ball and I just didn’t put it in.  I would love to have that chance again.”

On the match
“We didn’t come out hard in the first half and we gave up a goal and we can’t have that happen.  We need to come out as a team and play 90 minutes and not just 70.  In this league anything can happen as you can see tonight.  We would have really loved three points tonight, but we got one.”

Head Coach, Tony DiCicco—

On this match compared to their first one with the Freedom on April 18th:
“They’re a good team and even though the first game we won 3-1, it was still a close match.  They got a penalty saved on them and if they scored that they probably would have won the game last time.”

On this match:
“This was probably the highest level game we’ve played this year.  It was very fast and quick.”

On the Freedom playing without Abby Wambach:
“I had to warn my team that this would be a very dangerous game. Everyone on their team would be in the mind set that they would need to step up their game to make up for Abby Wambach.  Playing like that makes them a very dangerous team.  In the first half they were first to every ball and played the ball around very well.”

On the Breakers match:
“I was proud of the way we played in the second half.  We went for the three points tonight but give Washington credit for their exceptional first half.  After their goal we finally started to play our game and put together some good chances.  Their goalkeeper came up with the save of the season on Kelly Smith as well.”